2018 end of year releases

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Welcome to a new world of magic and shifters, demons and desire. And possibly the most perfect part? It has portal-travel.

I am a very reluctant traveller because I get motion sick. Ugh. Also I get over-excited and cranky and scatter-brained (hmm, that sounds a lot like my normal life).

So in "Demon Hunter" I got over the whole problem of long-haul flights to travel to Australia by introducing portal-travel. Unfortunately, that raises a whole heap of extra problems for my beleaguered heroine, Fay.

Luckily a sexy shifter is panting to help her -- and he wants to do more than carry her luggage!

You can bleed and die banishing a demon, but Fay Olwen discovers there are worse hurts. Betrayed by the Collegium and by her father, she must build a new life away from New York. Leopard-shifter Steve Jekyll would have her build it with him. But loyalties are never simple and new love never easy. When demons are unleashed, Fay tracks the evil back to the Collegium, and now all hell will break loose because Fay fights for the innocent, and Steve will protect what is his.

For fans of kick-ass heroines and shifter heroes who are alpha-male and sinfully sexy.

Kniam: A Terraneu Novel by Stormy McKnight was five dollars for about 160
pages. Badly edited pages with many repeats. It was a good story and characters
but this is one of those cases where just because you could doesn't mean you
should self publish. Two more edits and this would have been a great
series.

Next, Eleni Konstantine says "At the moment, I seem to be reading bits from all sorts of books. This
is my CFS brain at work and it wants to percolate on books. Also I tend
to read my e-books when I’m waiting for appointments or meeting up with
others, and audio is in the car. But also sometimes I am in different
moods for different books. In the morning I can feel like that dark
urban fantasy, but by the evening that comedy of errors may be what I
fancy. Yes, I don’t try and understand my process. It’s just me. At
other times, I only read one book at a time. Yes, I don’t try and
understand my process. It’s just me. I’m thrilled to be reading and
hopefully this year will make up for the abysmal last couple of years."

As for myself, I've read quite a bit of sci-fi romance in the past few weeks. I tore my way through the Paradox trilogy by Rachel Bach. Personally I would have classified it as sci-fi with romantic elements, because although the heroine, Devi, had a love interest in Rupert (I had a huge problem with the name Rupert. Sorry, but its just not sexy!) the relationship definitely spent a lot of time in the background of the plot unfolding. Devi was a very gung-ho, strong and definitely independent heroine. She wasn't exactly diplomatic at times, and was more likely to fight her way out of any given situation, but that's what you had to love about her.This was a really great series for anyone looking for a space opera with a tough heroine.

Another sci-fi romance I read was A Hero for the Empire by Christina Wescott. This one had a bit of a rough starting, the romance wasn't really meshing with the story, but once it got going, it was really good, and I can't wait for more books in the series to come out. Also, it had a psychic cat in it who called the hero his "person". What's not to like?!

So, that's us for January. Hope you saw something you liked, and happy reading for February!

Thursday, 22 January 2015

Lately, I've been thinking about why genres like fantasy and science fiction meld so brilliantly with romance. These ruminations are in part inspired by the panel I'll be doing with Kelley Armstrong, Lilliana Rose and MJ Scott at the Australian Romance Readers Conference in Canberra in March (you are all going, right?)

The thoughts are also part inspired by the book that comes out today (Winning the King, book 2 in my Jorda SF romance series) and the book I'm currently working on (book 2 in my urban fantasy romance trilogy, which comes out 2015/2016).

And here are my thoughts - I think the speculative genres mesh so well with romance because there is an otherworldliness about love itself. I mean, you can ask a room of people what love is and get completely different answers. You can ask people why they love a particular person and while they'll list that person's many fabulous attributes, in the end you can't actually explain why you chose that person over everyone else.

If it was just biology, then why is it people generally only fall for one person in a pair of identical twins? If it's just personality, why that one person versus the person next to them who is pretty much the exact same person?

Of course, it's a mix of everything - biology, personality, a shared vision of the world and how it should be, similiar interests or ideologies - but sometimes, love can lack an element that others say make it work and still it does.

How? How does love work? How do we get to a point that we commit ourselves entirely to one person, want to be with them, feel that their happiness is the only thing we need to make ourselves happy?

The answer, of course, is that we don't know. Love is Magic. And that's why it works so brilliantly with fantasy and science fiction - because they are all about the magic.

Winning the King

Blue eyes, golden curls, a body songs are composed about, and part of one of the most powerful families in the colonies, Diana Wiltmore is not used to ever hearing the word ‘no’. So when she sets her sights on a fling with the gorgeous, potent and single King of Angonia, Gareth, she is shocked when he turns her down flat. In an effort to put the rejection behind her, she agrees to her sister’s plan to gain some political leverage by cosying up to a rival planetary ruler.

Gareth has responsibilities and no time for a woman like Diana. She is all temptation and distraction, but Gareth wants more from a woman than decoration. But it is Diana standing by his side as his beloved home of Angonia is attacked and he starts to see that underneath the surface is a strong woman even more beautiful than her picture-perfect exterior.

Gareth’s people need him and to be there for them, he needs Diana. But has he ruined every chance he has of winning her heart?

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Peta Crake has Sacrifice, the second book in the Ophelia Lind series is now available at most ebook retailers.

Ophelia Lind has never been your average girl, but since becoming the Harbinger, her life has become even more complicated. Still a messenger for the Olympic gods, Ophelia is desperately trying to balance her new position with her complicated family. The only thing that's been going well is her deepening relationship with demigod Aden.

When a message delivery goes awry, a dangerous artefact is stolen, and a woman beloved of the gods goes missing, Ophelia falls under suspicion and she realises that once again she's become caught up in a sinister plot. And if that weren't enough, someone is stirring up trouble between her and Aden. As the threats begin to escalate, Ophelia must try to clear her name before the gods take action. But will she be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect what she loves most…

Mycah Dunleavy has two goals in life: to protect her friends and to defend the World Below. In order to take her fight to the enemy she must become the most powerful witch she can be. But that power comes at a price.

In fulfilling her first goal, she committed the cardinal sin of using her magic to harm others. And to attain the second, she must combine in a ritual with a Watchtower Knight … despite the fact she can't bear to be touched.

Undaunted by Mycah’s defensive armor, Sebastian wants to claim her as his own and he intends to woo her long and slow. Then Mycah comes up with a crazy plan to gain more power and he becomes nothing more than a means to an end—a role he has no intention of accepting without a fight.

But there are bigger threats to deal with in the World Between. Mycah's life is threatened, four Witches are kidnapped, and once again the enemy is knocking at the door. Time is running out, and if Sebastian and Mycah don't find a way to work together, both of their worlds could be lost.

Thursday, 15 January 2015

I’ve always been fascinated by paranormal
stories, whether they be of the vampire, gargoyle, dragon or werewolf variety
(to name a few). I love how those characters can be extra special, with their
own unique powers along with their own brand of kryptonite.

I’m also rapt that there aren’t any
strictures on mixing up the genres. I think self-publishing has played a big
part in that phenomenon, where readers are actively seeking out—and finding—‘something
different’ and interesting in their stories.

Having said that, some genres just don’t
die off and stick around for good reason. Werewolves are tried and true for
many readers, and I happen to be one of those who love a good werewolf story =)

In my werewolf story,
Moon Thrall, I’ve also added in some added tension with a heroine who escapes
an abusive relationship.

Elyse Wellston escapes from her brutal,
violent ex-fiance to a remote cabin in Australia. Fearing for her life, Elyse
knows it doesn’t make sense for her to react the way she does upon meeting the
enigmatic Dane Maddox.

Only when she discovers he is a werewolf
and she is his weren—his mate and a werewolf herself—does she begin to
understand the hot, sexual yearning within. No longer does she need to act out
a desire she doesn’t feel. Dane is everything she wants. But will her ex end
her happiness and her sexual fulfillment before it even has a chance to begin?

Friday, 2 January 2015

My grandfather was born in 1907. In 1940,
with three children and a wife at home, he joined the Army and was sent away to
war. He served in the 2/8 Battalion and survived having a ship sunk underneath
him, making it home in virtually one piece in 1943.

As a small girl, I remember the trips to my
grandparent’s house in Thornbury. Grandpa interested me. He smelled of pipe
tobacco and beer. Once we arrived, he would sit me on his knee and rub his
bristly stubble over my face. He wouldn’t do this to anyone else, just me. When
I asked why, my father replied it was because I was special. My initials were
the same as his. J. L. A.

As I grew older we’d sit and talk. I often asked him
what he’d done in the war and the answer was always the same.

“It doesn’t matter what I did, what matters
is that you will never have to go through what I did.”

He would never tell me what had happened to
him and only recently have I been able to obtain a copy of his records.

I told him that I would join the Army, just
as he had, to defend our country. His answer was, “I hope you never need to, my
girl, but I will be proud of you if you do.”

Grandpa died in 1973 when I was 11 years
old.

In February 1980, aged 18, I joined the
Regular Army and was sent to WRAAC (Womens Royal Australian Army Corps) School,
Mosman NSW for six weeks of boot camp. They worked us hard and each night we
feel into bed exhausted. I loved it.

One night, after being asleep for about an
hour, I woke, not knowing what had woken me. A mist gathered at the foot of my
bed and a distinct form emerged. Years had passed since I’d last seen him, but
I’d have recognized him anywhere. He nodded to me, smiled, stood to attention
and saluted me. I saluted back. As his arm returned to his side, he faded away.

I will never forget he remembered the promise I’d made as a child and had come
to visit and say well done.

~~~

Old buildings have an eerie haunting feeling, and the 17th
Century Manor house in the Cornish countryside Julia intends to
restore, is no exception. Originally her dead husband’s dream, she feels
it’s up to her to complete it in his memory.

When she arrives, she
realizes it’ll take more than a quick clean to put the dilapidated old
Manor to rights. While
exploring the house, she feels as someone, or something, is watching
her. Darting shadows and movements, seen from the corner of her eyes,
seem to confirm sinister happenings at the Manor in the past.

The
discovery of an old diary hidden in a chest of drawers and the story it
tells, lead Julia in a different direction than she originally thought
she would be taking.

I'm J. L. Addicoat and I'm a published Author.I have one book Published and have a second one under consideration.My works contain genres of Romance, Paranormal and Science fiction.I
will be taking those who peruse these pages on a budding Authors
journey, with pages on problems I encounter, tips from other writers and
any pitfalls I may experience.Maybe you would like to join me on my journey?A little bit about me.I
live in the small country town of Gin Gin in Queensland Australia, with
my husband Kevin and two spoilt felines, Ginge and Pookie (Spook). He's
the one in the picture.I have three children, all who are grown up with their own families. Books have always been a love in my life. They bring knowledge, but also an escape into another world where anything is possible.

Sheikh
Shahzad Salah al Din doesn’t have time for hearts and flowers, not when his
parents’ bodies are barely even cold in their graves and his country, Omana, is
on the brink of revolt. He has to secure peace by honoring a long ago
arrangement to make English rose, Lexi Galvin, his wife. The trouble is
strong-willed Lexi isn’t aware of her royal Arab lineage let alone her destiny.
There is only one way Shahzad can guarantee she will be his queen … and he
isn’t above using force to get it.

In
order to secure a powerful alliance for his country, Khalid has no choice but
to marry a neighboring princess. It’s not what he wants, but duty must come
before pleasure. Yet when he meets the beautiful Sanura he changes his mind…
only to discover the virgin in his bed is not his destined bride.

He’d
paid a fortune for his bride and he was determined to collect, whether she
liked it or not. Rafi Salah al Din doesn't trust easily. In charge of security
for his country Omana, he devotes his life to duty. With his parents murdered
it is his duty to stabilize his country by finding his parents' assassin, marry
and produce a son to ensure the Salah al Din line lives on. So why does the
wife he bought disagree?

Christina,
Cathleen and Mel have been good friends for years, so when Cathleen came up
with the idea of us writing a box set together both authors jumped at the
chance to create an exciting, interweaving story about three sheikhs finding
love.

Cathleen’s
Bio: Cathleen loves writing for Harlequin and Escape publishing. Her latest
release: Secret Housewives of Sydney: Nella has been described as the most
shocking of the housewives. Of that she is very proud and glad she writes under
an assumed name. When she's not writing for her publisher she's self
publishing. Her latest self-published project is Highlander Romance. For a free
Highlander story go to:

Mel’s
Bio: Mel Teshco's gypsy-like upbringing saw her living in many places along
Australia's
east coast. Each new home stimulated an already over-active imagination, where
she spent as much time dreaming about fantasy worlds as the real world - the
fantasy sometimes being much better.

She
is a multi-published author with a love for the written word along with a short
attention span that sees her juggling a variety of genres and heat levels in
her stories. From contemporary to paranormal, inspirational to erotic, she
hopes there's a little of something for every reader out there to enjoy.

Christina’s
Bio

Christina
Phillips is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in sunny Western
Australia with her high school sweetheart and their
family. She enjoys writing paranormal, historical and contemporary romance where
the stories sizzle and the heroine brings her hero to his knees.

Christina
is addicted to good coffee, expensive chocolate and bad boy heroes. She is also
owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around
their needs. They are not wrong.